Podcast Summary: "Share & Severance & Tell"

Pablo Torre Finds Out — March 14, 2025
Host: Pablo Torre
Guests: Katie Nolan, Michael Cruz Kayne

Episode Overview

In this fast-flowing, deeply nerdy installment, Pablo is joined by Katie Nolan and comedian/actor Michael Cruz Kayne for an episode that meanders from 90s internet nostalgia to an obsessive deconstruction of "Severance" (the hit Apple TV+ series), before veering into a hilarious examination of why anyone would buy the infamous "Saltburn" bathtub at auction.

The result is a warm, tangent-strewn hangout, filled with inside jokes, fandom deep-dives, and infectious laughter—plus a not-so-subtle debate on the ethics of collecting bizarre movie props.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Internet Nostalgia & AIM Memories

• The trio reminisces about AOL free trial CDs, shifting screen names, and the introduction of AIM features, especially the "Warning" function, which they recall as a (mostly harmless) tool for teenage mischief.
• [00:44] Pablo: "The AOL free trial CDs were a certain form of currency."
• [01:25] Pablo: Wonders if the 'Warning' feature was invented for politeness: "And instead, it was just weaponized."
• [01:47] Katie: “So we do that with everything.”

Memorable Moment

• Nolan describes family AIM habits, with her dad gaming AOL’s free trials and the resulting identity confusion.

2. "Severance" Deep Dive (Spoilers for S1 and S2!)

[06:29] Onward

• The main focus: dissecting, celebrating, and mythbusting all things "Severance."
• Michael Cruz Kayne reveals he had a brief role on the show, prompting much self-effacing humor about his unforgettable, yet obscured cameo as “Steven.”
  • [08:04] Michael: “Well, I'm not allowed to talk about that, but yes, I am the star.”
  • [09:44] Michael: “I did feel Stevenish while we were shooting it.”
• The hosts debate the ethics and worldview depicted in "Severance."
• They get meta about fandom, theorizing on subreddits, and draw comparisons to “Lost” and “The Leftovers” in terms of payoff and audience expectations.
• Katie and Pablo express cautious optimism (and slight burnout) over whether all hidden clues will be resolved, referencing the infamous wait between seasons.
  • [16:49] Katie: “Almost criminal, how long we had to wait for a season two.”
• They praise standout technical elements—especially episode 7’s direction and aesthetics.
  • [21:03] Pablo: “The woman who directed that is a cinematographer. That was her first time directing an episode. It was gorgeous.”
• They joke about the unexpectedly sexy Adam Scott, the show’s complicated relationships, and the joys and perils of “shipping” the wrong couple.

Fan Culture Insights

• Katie warns about the risks of going “too deep” on the subreddit:
  • [15:48] Katie: “If you go too deep, I just think it's a little too much…”
• Both guests muse on whether the show can/will answer every mystery, and how their viewership was shaped by shows like “Lost” and “The Leftovers.”
  • [19:18] Katie: "What cured me of that was when I watched The Leftovers, because... they don't know why either. So why should you know why?"

Notable Quotes

• [13:14] Michael: "That borderline. Nothing. I knew what? I had read of the scripts, which were not… massive amounts from previous auditions…”
• [20:57] Pablo: “That episode was beautiful. Just beautifully shot.”

3. On Buying the Saltburn Bathtub & Movie Memorabilia

[30:19] Onward

• Pablo segues to the viral auction of the “Saltburn” bathtub (from a notorious sex scene), sparking incredulity and speculation among the group.
  • [33:24] Michael: “Talented Mr. Sip Me. Is that something?”
• They debate the psychology behind collecting such notorious objects, whether for “sex reasons” or as a legitimate piece of cinema history.
  • [34:11] Pablo (quoting the buyer): “I just look at it... Barry Keoghan was right there. It's so crazy to me.”
  • [34:35] Katie: “It just feels like you've got that thing in your house so someone can say, ‘What is this?’”
• Inventory of the collector’s other purchases: Lady Gaga costumes, Tiger King’s clothes, Friday the 13th signs, etc.
  • [35:48] Pablo: "They include dozens of clothes previously owned by Joe Exotic... a mask and two vans from the horror movie ‘The Black Phone’... a horse trailer from ‘Twister’..."
• Comparison to owning sports memorabilia, and whether certain objects cross a line.
• Michael jokes about the “unknown sex pervert excuse” of calling it “a piece of history.”
  • [38:00] Michael: “Immediately came up with the same excuse that an unknown sex pervert came up with.”

4. What Prop Would You Want? Movie and TV Object Wishlist

• Pablo asks: what memorabilia would you buy?
• They trade whimsies, from the “Severance” break room to Wilson from “Castaway.”
  • [38:44] Pablo: “He owns the FedEx box from Castaway.”
• Katie debates the value of Will Ferrell’s “Stranger Than Fiction” hospital gown; Michael is unimpressed by certain picks but amazed by others, like Radar's teddy bear from "MAS*H."
• The discussion cycles back, tongue-in-cheek, to the Saltburn bathtub and its questionable allure.

5. Humor, Callback Jokes & Closing Thoughts

• The episode closes in irreverent, self-aware style: the group makes meta jokes about inserting their own podcast footage into a "Severance" scene.
  • [42:13] Katie: “His head is still blocked. Even in this, us two are on the side that you can see.”
• Katie remains convinced that “Pablo Torre Finds Out” provides chaos, rarely answers, and always brings fun.
  • [41:34] Pablo: "We found out so much today. So much."
  • [41:40] Katie: “I found out this isn’t the safe space I thought it was. I found out I’m not safe here.”

Timestamp Guide to Major Segments

| Time | Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------| | 00:44 | AOL nostalgia, free CDs, AIM “Warning” | | 06:29 | Intro to “Severance” deep-dive | | 08:04 | Michael Cruz Kayne’s cameo (as Steven) | | 13:14 | On knowing (or not knowing) his role | | 16:49 | The agony of the S1–S2 gap, fan theories | | 20:57 | S2, Ep. 7: Aesthetic praise | | 30:19 | Segue into Saltburn’s bathtub auction | | 33:24 | The psychology of collecting weird props | | 38:44 | Wishlist: dream collectibles | | 40:03 | Radar’s teddy bear & memorabilia jokes | | 41:18 | Wrap-up banter, what was learned | | 42:10–end | Closing jokes & imagined TV cameos |

Notable Quotes

• Katie Nolan [16:49]: "Almost criminal, how long we had to wait for a season two."
• Pablo Torre [21:03]: "It was gorgeous in every way. And the broader takeaway, though, name. Do you know Jessica Lee G. Nice. She knocked that out of the park."
• Michael Cruz Kayne [34:35]: “It just feels like you’ve got that thing in your house so someone can say, ‘What is this?’ and you can go, ‘Have you seen this scene from Saltburn?’”
• Pablo Torre [38:44]: "He owns the FedEx box from Castaway."
• Katie Nolan [41:40]: "I found out this isn’t the safe space I thought it was. I found out I’m not safe here."
• Michael Cruz Kayne [38:00]: “Immediately came up with the same excuse that an unknown sex pervert came up with.”

Tone & Style

• Conversational, equal parts sharp and silly.
• Fast-paced volleys of jokes and deeply considered arguments.
• Imbued with a sense of playful “fandom therapy”: this is about finding community in obsession, and laughter in the absurd.
• Frequent callbacks and mutual ribbing keep the tone light even while nerding out on TV drama or questioning the meaning of collecting.

Conclusion

A quintessential "Share & Tell" episode: affectionate, weird, and fiercely invested in its favorite stories. "Pablo Torre Finds Out" here becomes part couch club, part TV aftershow, and part pop culture group therapy—asking not just “what happened on Severance,” but “why are we like this as fandoms and collectors?” Great for both hardcore watchers and those just in for the ride.

Skip this episode only if you hate fun, spoilers, or the phrase “so milky.”